Suspension filing rack



March 14, 1961 w. H. FURRER SUSPENSION FILING RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR WAY/r5? /1. fu'l'm BY j Filed Oct. 30, 1956 March 1961 w. H.FURRER SUSPENSION FILING RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 30, 1956 I:-Q -----------J Fig. 5

INVENTOR h 'f V A. P0 61 5? United States Patent SUSPENSION FILING RACKWerner H. Fiirrer, Kusnacht, Zurich, Switzerland, as-

Signor to Rud. Fiirrer Siihne A.G., Zurich, Switzerland,

a company of Switzerland Filed Oct. 30, 1956, Ser. No. 619,194

Claims priority, application Switzerland Feb. 29, 1956 1 Claim. (Cl.211-126) The present invention concerns a suspension filing rack fordocuments and similar material of uniform size in which use is made ofhorizontal suspension rails.

There are already in existence various suspension filing racks for thesafe-keeping of records in which folders containing written matter canbe suspended singly from horizontal carrying rails and freely movedalong them. Such suspension filing racks are usually arranged for slimdocument folders which are suspended by their upper edges from thecarrying rails, or are. intended for looseleaf books which have suitablehangers on the spine and may be kept in a horizontal or obliquepositionin the filing stand.

These familiar suspension filing systems have given satisfactoryservice, particularly where the documents are frequently referred to,must be readily accessible and call for detailed sub-classification.

For many purposes, for example for storage or filing drawings and thelike, there is, however, a desire to keep large quantities of writtenmatter in order and easily accessible, it being sufiicieut, however, todivide the material into groups or according to numbers without bindingthe separate sheets. Moreover for such storage purposes, a filing systemis required which is economical in space and as inexpensive as possibleso that costs may be kept within reasonable limits when the amount ofmaterial to be stored is large. For a use such as this, the suspensionfiling racks known hitherto do not represent the optimum solution, forin regard to subdivision, labelling and bandling, they answerconsiderably more detailed requirements than called for in the presentcase, and this unnecessarily increases the cost and the space occupied.

The present invention concerns a suspension filing rack of the kinddescribed above,-which is particularly suitable for storing records. Itis characterized by containers in which papers in folders or loosesheets may be placed and which are provided with hangers on their rearnarrow sides, and by horizontal rails placed one above the other andparallel to one another at a certain vertical interval and having achannel-like lower edge on which the containers may be suspended so asto slide endwise by means of their hangers, the interval between thehorizontal rails being selected in such a manner that the suspendedcontainers rest with the bottom of their rear narrow sides on the upperpart of the horizontal rail immediately below, which is formed as asliding surface.

In the drawings embodiments of the invention are represented and shown:

Fig. l is an elevation of a suspension filing rack and Fig. 2 is a topplan view of'the suspension filing rack according to a first embodimentof the invention,

'Fig. 3 is an elevation of another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a view of the attachment of two suspension rails to anupright,

Fig. 5 is a plan view partly in section taken along the line V--V inFig. 4,

free

Fig. 6 is a view of the attachment of a suspension rail.

to an extreme outside upright.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is disclosed astand for a suspension filing rack with up rights 1 and horizontal rails2 arranged parallel to one another and vertically above one another at apredetermined interval, said rails being bolted or welded to theuprights, suspended on hooks or cut-outs, or secured in some othersuitable manner. This rigid stand can be provided in the usual way witha base (not shown) and set up in a self-supporting manner in the room,all side walls being dispensed with, or the uprights can be secured to avacant wall or to the rear of cupboards. If desired, the stand can havea top 7 which is secured to the uprights by means of the angle iron 8.Needless to say, side walls can also be provided at both ends of thestand,

but such casings are not normally required, for the stand isself-supporting.

a side 3c, is bent at 6b to form a downward inclined arm' The horizontalrails 2, according to Figs. ,1 and 2, are approximately L-shaped andsecured to the upright 1 by their vertical leg. The upper edge 2a of thevertical leg is bent round approximately at a right angle and points inthe same direction as and roughly parallel to the horizontal leg 2b, butis shorter than the latter, measuring, by way of example, only one thirdof its length. The horizontal leg 2b is bent up along its front edge 20,so that a shallow longitudinal channel is formed in which the filecontainers are suspended. The horizontal rails 2 can be made of anymaterial that is suificiently rigid, for example, of iron or othermetals, or of plastic. Care must, however, be taken that the faces ofthe upper edge 2a and of the turned up part 20, which serve as slidingsurfaces, are as smooth as possible.

The horizontal rails 2 of the stand serve for the suspension of saidcontainers 3 which can he slid along them unimpeded by partitions. Thecontainers, which are here shown, by way of example, as taking the formof boxes consisting of two rigid or relatively stifi side walls 3a and3b, the rear narrow side 3c and the bottom Gd, are open at the front andthe top. These containers 3 serve to accommodate the written matter 4 infolders or as loose sheets which may be inserted or extracted singly ortogether in the direction of the arrow 5. Any folders of material can belabelled in a conventional manner or distinguished by means of ridersand signals. The containers 3 are suspended by means of the hanger 6which is fixed to the rear narrow side 3c and consists of a strip ofsheet metal bent in hook shape. The strip has an extension 6a riveted'or otherwise secured interiorly to the narrow side 3a, which thenprojects above the narrow 60 by which the containers 3 may be suspendedon the upturned edge 20 of the'horizontal rails. The arm 6c is formed insuch away that the suspended containers -3 can easily slide along afirst sliding surface'formed by the bent portion 2c. The suspendedcontainers 3 are supported by the lower end of their rear narrow side 30against the face of the edge 2a of the horizontal rail 2 which is bentforward and forms a second sliding surface. Since this edge 2a is, asalready mentioned, shorter than the horizontal leg 2b, the suspendedcontainers assume an oblique position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This isvery desirable for many purposes, for since the staggering of the rowsthus obtained now permits a clear view inthe direction of arrow 9 of thelabelled front corner of the matter in each container-or of theindividual folders, the interval between the'containers set one abovethe other can be kept very small. An oblique cut-away portion 10 at thefront of the sides 34 and 3b improves the View of the written matter 4and makes it easier to read a number or other means of identificationmarked thereon. If desired, the bottom 3d on the open side of thecontainer Patented Mar. .14, 196i e be essentially Z-shaped. The lowerof their two parallel legs is likewise provided with an upturnededge 11aso that a longitudinal channelii's,obtainedin which. the suspensionhooks 6' of the containers 3 engage. The web.

11d of the suspension rails'runs normal to the uprights 12 and liesflush agairistthem. The leg 110 points in an opposite. direction to theleg 11d and at the intersection of the horizontal rails and the uprightsthe upper parallel flange 110 of the horizontal rails is cut awayacrossthe width of the upright (Fig. 4);

According to Fig. 6, the stand is braced at the outermost uprights 12very simply by the upper parallel flange 110 of the horizontal rail 11being cut away for such a length and the horizontal rail being securedto the upright in such -a way that the remaining portion of the flange11c abuts against it. In order that the end of the horizontal rail isapproximately flush with the upright, the horizontal rail is alwaysfixed at the outermost uprights in the second hole, contrary to themethod of fixing according to Figs. 4 and 5. In this way the'remainingparallel flange 11c rests against the upright 12 and thus braces andstifiens the whole stand in such a manner that it is secured in avertical position. Since this method of fixing is applied at the leftand right outermost uprights, the stand, which may be any lengthdesired, acquires its lateral support.

In this embodiment (Figs. 3' to 6) the suspended containers 5 with thewritten matter 4 rest with their rear lower narrow side against the web11b of the supporting rail 11 immediately below, which is arranged at anappropriate interval for this purpose, the containers 3 again taking upa slightly oblique position.

A suspension filing rack of this design affords an economy in space in ahorizontal direction when compared with the design according to Figs. 1and 2, for the overhang of the horizontal rails can be reduced. Moreoverthe abrasion and danger of wear of the rear lower portion of thecontainers against the sliding surface of the suspension rail is reducedand cannot result in the containers being damaged.

' The containers 3 may be of any width, but should be so made that theydo not tilt when slid longitudinally.

. To confer greater stability, the containers may, if desired,

also be closed at the upper narrow side, by way of example, from thesuspension hook 6 to the beginning of the cut-away portion of the sides3a, 3b. For storing documents sensitive to light and dust, or. otherrecords, containers without the cut-away portion 10, with a continuoustop and a closure in the form of a lid or flap at the front, can also beprovided.

Thesuspension hooks, 6 reproduced in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may also takeanother appropriate form. For example, instead of a sheet metal stripcovering the Whole narrow side 3c, two hooks can be used, but in thiscase they should be as far apart as possible. These hooks may, by way ofexample, be made from metal strip or from wire. If the narrow side 30consists of thin material, as for instance of the same material as thesides 3a and 3b, it may also be of advantage to fix a metal strip on theoutside and inside of the narrow side 30 and to bend them together toform a suspension hook. Further, the surface of the narrow side 3cresting against the rail edge 20 can be provided with a strip of sheetmetal as a protection; In order to reduce abrasion further at this spot,the angled leg 2a can be bent so that its edge points to the horizontalleg 2b. To increase their life, the sliding surfaces of thehorizontalrails 2 can also be covered with mitablyshaped sheet metalsections. It'is also possible V 4 a to bend the front edge 20 of thehorizontal leg 212 downwards and then backwards to form a slidingchannel.

The stand reproduced in Figs. 1 and 2 is constructed as a suspensionfiling rack with containers on one side only. Needless to say, theuprights can be provided with suitable horizontal rails 2 out bothsides, so that the front and rear sides, of the stand can be providedwith containers 3, as indicated in Fig. 3 the front and rear railsbeingsecured with'the same bolts; I lf desired', auxiliary fixtures canbe suspended on the. horizontal rails, to facilitate filing work, by wayof example, a tabletchart or the like. a a

One of the special advantages of this suspension filing rack is thatthecontainers are freely slidable; without partitions. The absence of sidewalls enables the reserve space to be concentrated in one spot for eachinstallation and accordingly kept proportionally smaller that in systemswith partitions, especially in the case of long stands. As matter isadded to or extracted from the. sides; the containers may he slidWithout obstruction from supports, thus ensuring easy and simpleoperation.

Various changes and modifications may be made Without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that suchobvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed-claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by-Letters Patent is:

A suspension filing rack comprising at least one vertical rail, at leastone upper horizontal rail, securing means securing said upper horizontalrail to said vertical rail, another lower horizontal rail secured tosaidvertical rail below said upper horizontal rail, each of saidhorizontal rails being substantially Z-shaped in cross section. andhaving a top edge portion, a channel-shaped lower edge portion and anintermediate longitudinal portion which rests against said verticalrail, said top edge portion extending substantiallyperpendicularly tosaidlongitudinal portion and in opposite direction to said lower edgeportion, said top edge portion being provided with recesses therein,said vertical rail being received in said recesses to brace said framestructure, said other lower horizontal rail also being provided with arecess for receiving said vertical rail, said lower edge portion of saidupper horizontal rail and said other lower horizontalrail comprising abent front portion and a flange portion between said front portion andsaid longitudinal portion, said flange portion extending substantiallyparallelto said top edge portion and said front portion extendingsubstantially parallel to said' longitudinal portion, a. file caseprovided with a suspension member extending beyond said file case atoneend and rearwardly therebeyond and engaging said channel-shaped loweredge portion of said upper horizontal rail, saidv other lower horizontalrail being positioned below. said upper horizontal rail at a distance inrelation to'the overall height ofsaidfile case so that a lower portionofsaid file case. engages the intermediate longitudinal portion of saidother lower horizontal rail and said file case is secured to saidsuspensionfiling rack at a minimum distance from said verticalrail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS829,967 Jelferis Sept. 4, 1906 1,750,696 Vance Mar; 1.8, 1930 FOREIGNPATENTS 555,616 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1943 843,290 Germany July 7.,1952 917,301 France -4. Sept. 9, 1946

